Clear aligners: Are they the right choice for you?

To say clear aligners are a popular teeth-straightening treatment in Australia is an understatement. Every year 40,000 Australians correct their smile using the tray-based process. And it’s predicted that by 2028 the clear aligner market in Australia will be worth $747.8 million.

But are they right for you?

If you’re currently wondering whether you should get clear aligners or use another orthodontic treatment to straighten your smile, stick around. Because even though the practically invisible aesthetic and reasonable price point make them an attractive option, they’re not always the best option.
In this guide you’ll find:

• a brief overview of how they work
• the different clear aligners available in Australia
• a list of oral health challenges they can correct, and what they’re useless at fixing
• details about how committed you’ll need to be to make this treatment a success
• a comparison of what it’s like to wear clear aligners compared to traditional metal braces.

Having the information you need to make an informed decision, and the confidence to speak to your oral health therapist or dentist about clear aligner treatment, will help you decide whether they’re the right choice for you.

What are clear aligners, and how do they work?

Sometimes called invisible braces, clear aligners are an orthodontic treatment that uses a series of thin, plastic, removable trays. Each tray is moulded to the shape of your upper and lower teeth for greater comfort.

Discreet bonded attachments fixed to your natural teeth help move the tooth. But with a little wiggle, the bonds release the trays so you can eat, drink, and clean your teeth as normal.

Treatment progresses by moving from one tray to the next every 1-2 weeks. Wearing the trays in the correct order is important. Each tray is shaped slightly differently from the previous one to match the movement of your teeth. So starting with tray one and then jumping to tray 7 won’t work, as your mouth won’t be in the shape it needs to be in for tray 7. You’ve got to do the hard yards and wear trays 2-6 first.

Each aligner applies gentle, ongoing pressure to your teeth and supporting structures. And it’s this pressure that moves the teeth into the correct position for the next tray (and closer to the desired final position).
How long the treatment lasts will depend on the progress your dentist sees at each of your checkups. And you may need to wear 14-30 trays before the treatment is complete.

There are lots of clear aligner brands in Australia

Even if you’re at the start of your clear aligner journey, we’d bet our back teeth you’ve heard of at least one invisible brace brand – Invisalign. In fact, it’s so well known that some patients believe clear aligner treatment is called Invisalign treatment.

But this is just one company that makes see-through orthodontic trays. There are dozens of other options available in Australia including Spark (which we use at Keppel Dental), ClearCorrect, EZ Smile, and Bitesoft.

Which one you use will depend on the brand your dentist works with. And a dentist may choose one brand over another for various reasons, such as:

• patient feedback on comfort and ease of use
• the results they’ve achieved with other patients
• how easy the aligner trays and technology are to work with
• the material and quality of the aligner trays, and how clear they are
• the quality of the product design software and support given to the dentist
• the price point, which needs to suit both the practitioner and their patients.

If there’s a specific brand you’re interested in using, you may need to find a practitioner who uses that specific clear aligner. Or you may want to ask why they chose the clear aligner trays they use during your consult.

The aesthetic tooth challenges invisible braces can fix

Just like the rest of your body, teeth move and change throughout the course of your life. And the reasons they move include:

• natural ageing and growth
• lifestyle habits including drinking, eating, smoking, and sport-playing
• the loss or removal of a tooth that changes the space available in the mouth
• changing hormones, particularly in women experiencing pregnancy or menopause
• the presence of tooth decay or gum disease, which can weaken a tooth and change its supportive structures.

Shifting teeth is an unavoidable truth. And while this doesn’t bother some people, for others it can lead to discomfort in the mouth or simply frustrate them, especially if they wore braces while growing up.

Clear aligners can straighten teeth if you’re experiencing any of the following:

Clear aligners can treat most orthodontic challenges. But for more complex cases a fixed brace may be a better option. Complex tooth movements include:

If your clear aligner practitioner covers complex orthodontic procedures they should be able to fit your braces. If not, they may organise a referral for you to see an orthodontist for a second opinion.

Making sure your treatment works

Sceptical about whether flimsy, thin plastic trays have the power to straighten your teeth? You’re not alone, and a lot of people ask Google, “Do clear aligners actually work?”

The short answer is “Yes”. A US-based Consumer Affairs report suggests that clear aligners successfully correct mild to moderate tooth movement 80-90% of the time. But as with any oral health treatment, it’s only effective if you follow your dentist’s directions and use the product in line with your treatment plan.

So what exactly does that mean?

For it to be successful you need to commit yourself fully to the treatment. And a major part of that commitment is time.

Time for the treatment to work

Completing a clear aligner plan can take anywhere from 6 to 24 months, depending on how many trays you need to cycle through and how compliant you are with wearing them. (More on that in a moment.)

Time for appointments and seeing your dentist

At the start of treatment, your dentist sets up your plan by:

• taking scans and x-rays of your mouth (so your trays can be manufactured)
• identifying and fixing any pre-treatment issues such as gum disease, cavities, or tooth removal.

A second appointment happens once your trays are back from the manufacturer. At this appointment you’re shown how to use them, and the support attachments are bonded to your teeth.

Progress is monitored by checking in with your dentist every 2 weeks.

Time spent wearing your aligners

Finally, there’s the amount of time you’ll need to wear your clear aligners each day.

Successful treatment means wearing your aligner for at least 22 hours each day so it has time to do its thing. The tray should only be removed when eating, drinking, or cleaning the aligner and your teeth.

That may seem like a long time. And some people find it really tough. This is the recommended length of time to wear your aligner to complete your treatment plan within the timeframe discussed.

However, most dentists realise that… well, life happens. You may have a booking for a 3-hour lunch with friends. Or you may need to wear a mouthguard while you’re playing sport. Hitting that 22-hour mark might not be possible every day. And that’s alright as long as it’s the exception rather than the rule.

Wearing your aligner for less than 22-hours a day every now and then may extend your overall treatment time, and you may need to wear the same tray for a little longer than originally planned before you can move to the next one.

But not wearing your tray for several hours at a time regularly will derail the treatment, resulting in the need for more trays to accommodate a shift in your teeth that hadn’t been planned for.

Reaching the end of treatment

Once you’ve cycled through all your aligners, you’ll have a final checkup to confirm you and your dentist are both happy with the results.

Assuming you both are, the next steps include:

• removing the bonded attachments from your teeth
• cleaning and polishing your teeth
• taking a final scan so your retainer can be made.

And that retainer is the final step in your treatment. You’ll need to wear it day and night for at least 12 months. After that you’ll only need to wear it at night to keep your teeth in their new position. (Because remember, your teeth are always moving as your body changes and ages.)

Are clear aligners right for you?

The subtlety of clear aligners make them an attractive option. But they’re not the right course of orthodontic treatment for everyone. Your dentist wants you to get the best outcomes possible, which is why they’ll do some checks to make sure clear aligners are right for you.

Here’s what they might consider before suggesting clear aligners.

• Your age, and whether all of your adult teeth have come through.
• The severity of the crowding or overlap that needs to be corrected.
• How healthy your teeth and gums are before treatment.
• Whether you smoke or vape, as these can damage and discolour the trays.
• Your ability to commit to the length of time needed to complete the treatment.
• Whether you have dental implants or bridges. (Crowns shouldn’t affect the aligners.)
• Your oral heath routine, as extra effort is needed to keep your teeth clean.

Clear aligners vs metal braces

Clear aligners might be really popular, but they come with pros and cons. And most patients considering orthodontic treatment weigh these up against the pros and cons of traditional metal braces. So how do they shape up in a head-to-head comparison? (Or should that be mouth-to-mouth?)

Treatment time

Metal braces: Treatment time is fixed
–
Clear aligners: Treatment time is flexible

It can be tempting to remove clear aligners or leave them out for longer periods, which can increase treatment time. That’s not an option with metal braces, so your start and end date will be more certain.

Average cost in Australia

Metal braces: $4,000-$9,000
–
Clear aligners: $3,000-$9,000

These are ballpark figures. The cost of treatment will always depend on the complexity of your case, any pre-treatment work you need, and even what city or state you’re having treatment in.

Effectiveness

Metal braces: Very effective for mild or severe orthodontic movements
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Clear aligners: Very effective for mild to moderate orthodontic movements

Both treatments are highly effective at moving the teeth as long as the patient is compliant and the correct pressure is applied to the tooth (or teeth) in a timely manner.

Appearance

Metal braces: Noticeable
–
Clear aligners: Very discreet and barely noticeable

Whether or not you mind your orthodontic work being on display might depend on your hobbies, your profession, your lifestyle, and how self-conscious you think you’ll be.

Comfort

Metal braces: Some discomfort when the braces are tightened. Patients may also experience the metal rubbing on their lips or inner cheek.
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Clear aligners: Possible discomfort when starting treatment or wearing a new tray for the first time. And while the trays are moulded to fit your mouth, somDiet patients experience inner-cheek rubbing.

Diet

Metal braces: Some adjustments needed
–
Clear aligners: Nothing is off the menu

Removing clear aligners before eating or drinking means there’s less risk of them being damaged. Hard or sticky foods can damage metal braces or get stuck in the brackets.

Hygiene and upkeep

Metal braces: Clean teeth as normal, making sure you brush well above and below the brace wire. Use an interdental brush to floss between teeth and clean around the back of the brace.
–
Clear aligners: Remove aligners to brush and floss teeth as normal. Clean the aligners using a soft-bristled toothbrush, lukewarm (not hot) water and an aligner cleaner.

Appointments and checkups

Metal braces: Every 4-8 weeks
–
Clear aligners: Every 2-4 weeks

Appointment length for fixed braces is generally longer, as the dentist will need to make in-chair adjustments to the braces. They’ll also check your teeth for any signs of decay. Aligner appointments are more frequent, but generally quicker.

Making a final decision on whether you should get clear aligners

Clear aligners are undoubtedly a practical and effective way to straighten mild orthodontic challenges such as misaligned teeth or an overbite. Add to that the cost, the comfort, and the simplicity of keeping your natural teeth clean throughout treatment, and you can see why they are such an attractive option.

But for the treatment to be effective you need to wear them for at least 22 hours every day for the entire length of your treatment, which may be as long as 2 years.

Hopefully this information has given you a clearer idea of whether you should get clear aligners. And you can now use what you’ve learned to talk to your dentist about the possibility of using invisible braces to straighten your teeth.

Delivering clear alignment treatment and care in Central Queensland

Whether you’re at the start of your clear alignment journey or ready to take the next step, Keppel Dental can help. We use the latest digital dentistry techniques, clear aligner technology, and high-quality aligner products to deliver the best orthodontic care possible for patients in Central Queensland and beyond.

Find out more about our clear aligner treatment and how we make it work for you.